Home TA Online Is Zahid defying Anwar and the cabinet?

Is Zahid defying Anwar and the cabinet?

It is a good thing that Anwar has put Zahid's appointment of Ahmad Jazlan to head Felcra on hold

Anwar and his deputies Zahid and Fadillah

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Just two days after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had axed all political appointees to government-linked companies and government-linked investment companies, Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi announced the reappointment of former Machang MP Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub as Felcra chairman.

Ahmad Jazlan’s tenure had been terminated two days earlier following a collective cabinet decision on 14 December to terminate all political appointments, which were a drain on the economy of the country.

Zahid was bound by the cabinet decision, but he chose to ignore it and reappoint Ahmad Jazlan in total defiance of the cabinet decision. It was sheer arrogance of power that blinded him to his responsibility to the cabinet decision.

His action was tantamount to showing the middle finger to Anwar and his cabinet.

It is clearly the infamous Umno DNA taking over – which doesn’t respect the decisions of the highest authority in Umno, the delegates’ conference. The supreme council had acted contrary to an earlier decision of the Umno delegates conference – regarding cooperation with Pakatan Harapan – without any consequence. It is this DNA that came into play when Zahid unilaterally appointed Ahmad Jazlan.

Anwar’s predecessor, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, had made 234 appointments from August 2021 to September 2022. These were political rewards to buy loyalty and support for Ismail Sabri to remain as then PM. These appointments were not based on the competence or the qualification of the appointees, which would have enhanced the performance of the government-linked companies and government-linked investment companies and yielded profits for these firms to benefit the nation.

READ MORE:  Has Anwar really failed Malaysians?

Zahid said although the cabinet had decided to terminate the contracts of political appointees to government-linked companies, he believed that Ahmad Jazlan should continue in the position irrespective of the cabinet decision.

Going against the cabinet decision is nothing short of insolence. Zahid was being insensitive and couldn’t be bothered to respect the cabinet decision. His action shows he is not a team-player and he doesn’t respect and honour his fellow cabinet members.

He is in the cabinet not because he possesses any extraordinary skills or competence; he is there because of some political arrangement and realignment, not because of any special ability.

He is the deputy PM not because he and his party, Barisan Nasional, won the recent general election, but because the 30 BN MPs facilitated the formation of the ‘unity government’.

It is a good thing that Anwar has put the appointment of Ahmad Jazlan on hold. He should never allow this appointment to come into effect. That would be insulting the cabinet decision and condoning a wrong.

Zahid had defied the cabinet and insulted Anwar, the Prime Minister. His action runs counter to the collective responsibility of cabinet members and cannot be tolerated or condoned.

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
  1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
  2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
  3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
  4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
  5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
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Stephen Tan Ban Cheng
Stephen Tan Ban Cheng
23 Dec 2022 4.19pm

MAKING UNCERTAINTY A CERTAINTY

From the Sheraton move in 2020 till today, Umno has continually destabilised
the country’s political arena, causing the unprecedented appointment of three
prime ministers in five years till 2022 and costing the country valuable time in
making strides in our development.

Can Umno, through Zahid, stop making uncertainty a certainty? We have lost
out big time on foreign investment in the period. Sadly, the youths of this
country will end up paying for this Umno mischief.

SANTHI
SANTHI
23 Dec 2022 3.37pm

I totally agree with Ramakrishnan. Zahid should have known better than to have appointed Ahmad Jazlan. This shows that Zahid can be a risk in the future should there we disagreements in policy.
Let’s hope that this one issue will be the first and the only from Zahid.

S T
S T
23 Dec 2022 1.45pm

With due respect to you , Hold your horses for the time being . Give them a chance to work it out , defiance may be but PM has already pooled the rope . Thank you .

Kukl
Kukl
24 Dec 2022 12.27am
Reply to  S T

It’s easy to say give them a chance. We have been hearing this for 60yrs or more. Give them a chance. And the chance always failed us. If you in the comfort zone you don’t feel how the rakyat gone through. They always give the govt a chance at every election but the rakyat are at the losing end and the person we gave chance to got themselves rich while the poor remains poor.

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